Monastic investigation called over drink driving monk

Late on Tuesday night a pickup truck sided off the road in Surat Than province, the police were called to the incident. Whne they arrived at the scene they were surprised to find that the driver of the vehicle was the abbot of Wat Santi Maitri in tambon Khun Thalae in Muang district of Surat Thani, they were even more surprised to discover that he was drunk.

The abbot was found in his car at around 10pm at the side of the naibang road in tambon Bang Si. After the police and residents pulled the pickup truck out of the roadside ditch the monk attempted to drive off, but was stopped by the police and locals to the area. As well as the monk empty beer cans and an alms bowl were found inside the truck. The monk was later released to Phrathamvimolmolee, the chief monk of monastic region 16 for a monastic investigation. Today, Wednesday 19th of November a panel of monks met to discuss any action that was to be taken against the abbot, however no reports about the meeting have been released to the press.

Wat Santi Maitri, run by the Maha Nikaya sect is famous for meditation and many monks arrive there each year to learn about the practice of meditation.